Tariffs are bad business for the US economy

Sunday

Mar 4, 2018 at 3:00 PM

Good governance and good policy decisions for America demands that our elected officials keep a careful eye on the long term, as well as unintended consequences as they make executive and legislative decisions.

We are not seeing much of that with Mr. Trump’s half-baked volley against steel and aluminum in the form of yet another tariff. Just like his tariff on solar imports last month, this latest move will cause the price of goods at home to rise and, ominously, move us closer to inflation and then a recession we don’t need right now.

The fact that he announced it without having any of the details worked out shows this is just a move to try to distract us from the current White House chaos. How can Trump boast about his recent hand in a beautiful Republican tax cut that at most puts a pittance in the pockets of Americans and a month later increase the cost of solar one week and aluminum cans, cars, appliances and other items the next? That extra money he’s touting about the tax break will be quickly spent on inflationary prices and won’t move any family forward one step.

This is not smart and it shows our president is not thinking about unintended consequences. And where are our representatives in Congress on the solar and now the aluminum and steel tariffs? The solar tariff is hurting manufacturing and installation companies in the 10th District. Mr. Hice, Mr. Purdue and Mr. Isakson, get your heads out of the party sand and help us out here.

These tariffs are dangerous for our country and our Georgia agricultural markets will soon reap the unintended consequences. You all appear to be asleep at the wheel just when we need you most.

Regina Smith

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